Television media interface adaptor

Abstract

The present application is directed to adding a CEC engine into a CEC HDMI Switch used to provide universal remote-control capabilities even on TVs that do not support the CEC protocol.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch, the system comprising:
 a) a controller box; 
 b) a television; 
 c) a first media device; 
 d) an additional media device; 
 e) a remote control configured to provide instructions to the first media device but not the additional media device; and 
 f) an infrared sensor on the controller box; 
 wherein the controller box is connected to the television, first media device, and infrared sensor on the controller box; 
 and 
 wherein signals that are not in Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) are sent from the remote control configured to provide instructions to the first media device are received by the infrared sensor on the controller box and are translated to Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) format and then passed through to the additional media device as CEC commands so that the user is able to control each of the television, first media device, and additional media device, from the single remote control belonging to the first media device such that when the controller box receives a command it sends CEC format signals to the appropriate media device of the first media device and additional media devices. 
 
     
     
       2. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , wherein the controller box is connected to the television by an HDMI cable. 
     
     
       3. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , wherein the controller box is connected to the cable access device by an HDMI cable. 
     
     
       4. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , wherein the controller box is connected to the additional media device by an HDMI cable. 
     
     
       5. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , the additional media device comprising a DVD player. 
     
     
       6. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , the additional media device comprising a Blu-Disc player. 
     
     
       7. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , the controller able to control each of the television, cable access device, and additional media device, including turning the television, cable access device, and additional media device on and off. 
     
     
       8. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , the controller able to control each of the television, cable access device, and additional media device, including turning one of the cable access device and additional media device on when the other devices are turned off. 
     
     
       9. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , the controller able to control each of the television, cable access device, and additional media device, including turning one of the cable access device and additional media device off when the television is turned off. 
     
     
       10. The system for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 1 , the controller able to control the television that does not support the Consumer Electronic Control protocol. 
     
     
       11. A method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch, the system comprising:
 a) providing a controller box; 
 b) providing a television; 
 c) providing a cable access device; 
 d) providing an additional media device; 
 wherein the controller box is connected to the television, and cable access device; and 
 e) an infrared sensor; 
 wherein the controller box allows for switching between content from the cable access device and the additional media device displayed on the television; 
 wherein signals that are not in CEC format received from the infrared sensor are translated to CEC format and then passed through to an additional media device that is a CEC device and the controller is able to control each of the television, cable access device. 
 
     
     
       12. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , wherein the controller box is connected to the television by an HDMI cable. 
     
     
       13. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , wherein the controller box is connected to the cable access device by an HDMI cable. 
     
     
       14. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , wherein the controller box is connected to the additional media device by an HDMI cable. 
     
     
       15. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , the additional media device comprising a DVD player. 
     
     
       16. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , the additional media device comprising a Blu-Disk player. 
     
     
       17. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , the controller able to control each of the television, cable access device, and additional media device, including turning the television, cable access device, and additional media device on and off. 
     
     
       18. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , the controller able to control each of the television, cable access device, and additional media device, including turning one of the cable access device and additional media device on when the other devices are turned off. 
     
     
       19. The method for adding Consumer Electronics Control engine into a controller switch of  claim 11 , the controller able to control each of the television, cable access device, and additional media device, including turning one of the cable access device and additional media device off when the television is turned off. 
     
     
       20. A system and method directed to adding a Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) engine into a CEC HDMI switch used to provide universal remote-control capabilities even on TVs that do not support the CEC protocol as described herein.